How to Write 检 (jiǎn) — Meaning “to check or examine”

Picture a wooden sign (木) that says 'Check ALL items' – the sound of 佥 is like 'all' in Chinese (quán, though 佥 is qiān). So you remember: to check (检), look at the wood and confirm everything is there.

Write the left radical 木 narrow and tall, with the vertical stroke straight. The right side 佥 starts with a small 人 on top, then a horizontal line, then two dots, and finally a left-falling stroke and a dot. A common mistake is making the left side too wide or confusing the two dots with a single horizontal.

检 has the right side 佥 (with a 人 on top and two dots), while 枯 has 古 (old) on the right, and 枰 has 平 (flat). Visually, 检's right side looks busier. In meaning, 检 is about checking, 枯 means withered, and 枰 is a chessboard or flat wooden board.

检 appears in common words like 检查 (to inspect), 检票 (to check tickets at a gate), and 体检 (physical examination). You see it at train stations on signs saying 检票口 (ticket check entrance). It's also used in legal terms like 检察院 (procuratorate), showing its role in supervision and examination.

Common words containing 检 include: 检查 (jiǎn chá) — to check, inspect, or examine; 检票 (jiǎn piào) — to check tickets; 体检 (tǐ jiǎn) — physical examination; check-up.